STAFF and customers at a children’s soft play centre are reluctantly crossing off the days until it closes its doors for the last time.

Westows Play and Football, in School Road, Hove, will close on April, 6 as the complex it is located within is being demolished to make way for homes and offices.

Manager David McLaughlin, 58, of West Parade, Worthing, said: “A friend came to me in 2002 with the idea of setting up a children’s play centre.

“At first I was just helping with back office stuff, by 2006 I was running it on my own.

“We are angry and upset the council made the decision to grant planning permission based on the fact we were only ever a temporary provision. We’ve been here almost 16 years.”

Despite opposition from many residents, permission for the redevelopment was granted last summer.

At the planning committee meeting in July 2017, where the plans were agreed, Councillor Robert Nemeth said: “Local residents have suffered nuisance from the previous use over a number of years.

“It is vitally important, therefore, that their concerns are heeded and the resultant scheme is sensitive to neighbouring development in terms of its appearance and to avoid overlooking loss of amenity, noise and other nuisance to neighbouring properties.”

The plans include 104 new homes, 41 of which will be affordable for families on low incomes, and almost 600 square metres of office space.

Mr McLaughlin said: “About 50 people will lose their jobs across the businesses within the Westerman complex as it stands currently.

“The new development will mean business floor space will be reduced from 5,000 square metres to only 572, which means that fewer people will be employed here ultimately.”

Aidie Norman, 32, who co-owns 4-Corner.com, a football coaching business, with his partner Scott Ellis, 40, runs clubs and classes for children and young people at Westows.

He said: “Since it was announced it would be closing, we’ve seen a decline in custom and have been looking everywhere for an alternative location for our business. I have probably enquired about 50 units around Hove, Portslade, Lancing, Worthing and beyond and they’re either too expensive or on the cusp of being demolished and redeveloped.

“I blame the council. As long as they get their targets and meet their housing quotas, they don’t seem to care how many buildings they knock down or that they’re removing leisure facilities for local people.”

Verity Moran, 35, of Ingram Crescent East, Hove, is a mother of two and visits Westows regularly.

She said: “I am devastated it’s closing, I only live two minutes away and it’s so handy when you need to get the kids out of the house to burn off some energy.

“It really is the last thing standing around here in terms of play space for children, we rely on it so much, especially when the weather is bad.

“I also wonder what will happen to all the groups and clubs that take place here, such as Music Bugs. We’re really going to miss it.”